Empowering Voters: Questions to Ask Candidates This Election Season

Questions YOU can ask candidates for office.

AARP has a long and proud history of non-partisan voter engagement. While we do not make endorsements or political contributions, we do encourage candidates to talk about what they would do to address the interests and concerns of older New Yorkers.

Candidates in New York who want to win should listen to older voters and address the issues that matter to them – like protecting Social Security, helping older adults live independently in their homes, fighting the high cost of prescription drugs, and supporting the 2.2 million New Yorkers who help care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones.

One great way to get candidates talking about these important issues is simply to ask them! In the sprint toward Election Day, candidates for state and federal offices on the ballot in New York will be out and about engaging with the voters they’re courting, and we encourage you to ask them about issues important to you.

Here are some questions you can use when speaking with the candidates this fall to help find out where they stand on the issues important to you.

Questions for federal candidates:

1. Supporting Family Caregivers

More than 48 million Americans assist their older parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, and other loved ones so they can live independently in their homes. That means one in three voters is a caregiver. Yet they don’t get the support they need while providing $600 billion annually in unpaid labor.

Both parties have a big opportunity to win these voters. Caregivers vote and they can make the difference in a close election.

AARP is fighting for solutions that will save caregivers time and money — and give them more support.

• Candidates, how would you help family caregivers?

2. Social Security

If Washington doesn’t take action, in ten years Social Security could be cut by 20%.

It’s time for both parties to come together and agree on a solution to fix the Social Security shortfall so we can protect the financial security of current and future generations.

AARP urges candidates to protect and save Social Security, so Americans get the money they’ve earned.

• Candidates, do you see a path in Congress for a bipartisan solution to protect Social Security?

Questions for State Candidates:

3. Prescription Drugs

Nobody should have to choose between food and medicine, but New Yorkers are making hard choices every day due to out-of-control prescription drug prices. Prescription drug prices are twice as high in the United States as in Canada. Allowing the state of New York to import prescription drugs from Canada could help reduce those prices.

• Candidates, if elected, how would you help lower costs for New Yorkers with innovative solutions?

4. Caregiving

Thousands of older New Yorkers are not getting the services they need to be able to stay in their homes as they age, such as home-delivered meals and transportation to doctors. Family caregivers want to help their loved ones remain in their homes and communities and out of expensive nursing homes.

• Candidates, if elected, how will you ensure that family caregivers and older New Yorkers get the services they need to remain independent in their homes?

5. Transportation

New York State’s Complete Streets Design Law requires that state, county, and local transportation departments consider the convenience and mobility of all users when planning and developing road projects. Unfortunately, the current law excludes projects classified as resurfacing, maintenance, and pavement recycling, which dramatically decreases the number of projects where complete streets design features are used.

• Candidates, how would you expand the scope of projects considered under the Complete Streets Design Law so that all New Yorkers can safely access public roads?

6. Financial Exploitation

Older New Yorkers are statistically at a higher risk of being targeted for financial exploitation. While banks and other financial institutions can recognize the signs of elder financial abuse, they don't have the ability to intervene, like temporarily placing a hold on suspicious transactions.

• Candidates, if elected, how would ensure that banks and other financial institutions protect older adults from financial exploitation?

By asking these questions, you help ensure that candidates address the issues that matter most to you. This election season, let’s make sure that the voices of older New Yorkers are heard loud and clear!